Damian Scholl (DE) – Mondschein-Widerschein - quasi una fantasia

“On a damp October’s night with a full moon eerily illuminating the dense fog, a wayfaring stranger beholds a group of ghosts dancing in circles. They spin more and more wildly and ere he knows it the ghosts begin to dissolve in the misty night, leaving the lonesome wanderer behind in bewilderment. The musical material for this chilling scene is based on Beethoven’s Mondscheinsonate (predominantly the first four bars). The faded outlines of Beethoven’s musical material can be heard just as the wanderer saw the ghosts in the mist. This material dissolves into singular elements that are pieced together again and filled with a new spirit.”

“Mondschein-Widerschein – quasi una fantasia” – in concert:

Damian Scholl (*1988)

Damian Scholl is a composer of both contemporary music for the concert hall and music for film and theater.

Damian Scholl, began studying violin at the age of seven. From the very beginning of his musical education he had a keen interest in composing and performing his own music.

Scholl continued to pursue his interest in composition by enrolling in the University of the Arts (UDK) Berlin, where he studied from 2008-2013 with Daniel Ott and Walter Zimmermann. During his years at the UdK, Scholl also studied with David Fennessy at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow. After his graduation he went on to study filmmusic at the Filmuniversity „Konrad Wolf“ Babelsberg where he finished his academic education in 2017.

In 2014, Scholl was awarded a scholarship to work and live in the Villa Wasmuth near Bonn. The following year, he won the prize of Deutscher Musikwettbewerb with his piece “Ghostbird” as well as the WDR Filmscore Award. Scholl is an Alumnus of the notable scholarship Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes. In 2017, he was invited to AYE Composer’s Week in Bangkok mentored by Prof. Dieter Mack and Peter Veale. With his music for Andres Veiel’s documentary „Beuys“ he attracted attention together with his colleague Ulrich Reuter. The film was part of the official selection for the Competition at the Berlinale 2017 and the music nominated at the German Filmmusic Prize 2017 for Best Score.

Damian Scholl’s oeuvre to this date includes works for solo instruments and small chamber ensembles, as well as bigger works including a chamber opera and works for symphonic orchestra. His works for film and concert hall treads off the beaten path. They distinguish themselves in their subtlety and sensibility.